Sheffield United: Blades loan ace wants to stay

James Shield
Sheffield United

Published:14:50

Bob Harris will tell Nigel Clough that he wants to stay at Bramall Lane when the pair meet to discuss his future.

Sheffield United, who signed the former Blackpool defender on a short-term contract earlier this year, inserted an option into the deal which secured Harris’ release from Bloomfield Road which allows them to retain the 26-year-old’s services for another 12 months.

Clough, the United manager, admitted ahead of today’s match with Tranmere Rovers that he is facing some tough decisions in the transfer market after insisting the League One club must mount a serious challenge for promotion next term.

But Harris, revealing that joining the Blades has helped him fall back in love with football, said: “There’s nothing to be decided as far as I’m concerned. Obviously, it’s up to the gaffer what happens but I’m hoping to be here for a very long time.

“My deal runs until May and we’ll sit down and talk about what happens then. But I don’t mind making it very clear that I hope that option is taken-up.

“I’m absolutely loving it. It’s a great place to be and there’s so much potential going forward.

“But, the most important thing from my point of view, is that I’m happy again. To be honest, that wasn’t really the case towards the end of my time at Blackpool because I didn’t enjoy watching from the sidelines.

“It’s different here. I’m involved and I really feel a part of things so, fingers crossed, that continues and I can carry on.”

Clough, whose side today make the journey to Prenton Park ninth in the table, recently confirmed he wants to make “a few quality additions” to a squad which, despite languishing in the relegation zone following his appointment in October, reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup eight days ago.

“When I came here, some people might have thought it was taking a step down a division from the Championship,” Harris, who is receiving treatment for a groin problem, said. “But I didn’t view it as anything of the sort.

“I always knew I was coming to a massive club and that’s what everybody I spoke with at the time told me. When you see us take well over 30,000 fans with us to Wembley, it just reinforces that.”